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?9"B% Seventeenth Century 

Place - Names 
of Providence Plantations 



CLARENCE S. BRIGHAM 




DDQ175 C 1 C 157M 




Class. 
Book. 



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SEVENTEENTH CENTURY 
PLACE-NAMES 



O F 



PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS 

1636 — 1 700 



Compiled by 
CLARENCE S.' BRIGHAM 

Librarian of the 
Rhode Island Historical Society 



PROVIDENCE 

1903 






FIA Ha^V. %+*u. 



Reprinted from the 

Rhode Island Historical Society Collections 

Volume X 



PREFATORY NOTE 



In the following alphabetical index and accompanying map 
the attempt is made to locate every place-name mentioned in 
the Providence records before 1700 and included within the 
original town of Providence as granted by the Indians to the 
early colonists, i. e., the territory between the Pawtuxet River 
and the Blackstone River. A concise description is given of 
each name in order that it may be located on a modern map. 
In the case of those names which are still in use, the modern 
spelling has been generally adopted, with note of the fact if 
the early spelling is greatly at variance with that of the pres- 
ent day. In calculating distances given in early surveys it 
should be remembered that the surveyors used both the i6 f and 
the 18 foot pole, and that consequently a distance can often 
only be approximated. It should also be borne in mind that the 
magnetic north of the latter part of the 17th century varied 
about 12 west of the true astronomical north used on the re- 
cent government maps and on many modern surveys. 

The references, which are chiefly to the printed volumes of 
Providence Records, are given merely to show early or sug- 
gestive usage of a name. The references to manuscript 
sources are in most cases self-explanatory. The early manu- 
scripts in the City Hall have been of great service, especially 
the Fenner Papers and the long series of Providence Town 
Papers in the office of the Clerk of the Municipal Court, the 
volumes of deeds and the plat cards in the Deed Office, and 
the two folio volumes of early Plats of Highways in the cus- 
tody of the City Clerk. In the library of the Rhode Island 
Historical Society the Field Papers, the Fenner Papers and 
the Rhode Island Historical Society Manuscripts have been 
particularly serviceable. The frequent references to the Har- 
ris Papers are to the printed volume. The following maps 
and atlases have been of especial value : C. Harris, Map of 
the State of Rhode Island, 1795 ; B. Lockwood & S. B. 
Cushing, Map of the City of Providence and Town of North 



Providence, 1835 ; J- Stevens, Topographical Map of the State 
of Rhode Island, 1831 ; H. F. Walling, Map of- the State of 
Rhode Island, 1862 ; D. G. Beers, Atlas of the State of Rhode 
Island, 1870; G. M. Hopkins, Atlas of the City of Providence 
and Environs, 1882 ; United States Geological Survey, Topo- 
graphical Atlas of the State of Rhode Island, 1891 ; Everts 
& Richards, New Topographical Atlas of Surveys, Providence 
County, 1895. 

In the preparation of this index, the compiler has gathered 
a large collection of miscellaneous references gleaned from 
deeds, wills and town proceedings, relating both to the 17th 
century place-names included in the list and also to many 18th 
century place-names. This material is to be kept in the li- 
brary of the Historical Society, where it may be of service to 
the student of local history. The indebtedness of the com- 
piler to Mr. Edward Field, Mr. William G. Brennen, and Mr. 
Welcome A. Greene for courtesies extended to him in the 
work of preparation is hereby gratefully acknowledged. 

Clarence S. Brigham. 









Of 






LIST OF NAMES. 



Absolute Swamp. An original boundary of Providence 
and undoubtedly the swamp northwest of the present Olney's 
Pond and southeast of the junction of the Louisquisset Pike 
and the so-called Breakneck Road, in the town of Lincoln. 
{P. R. ii : 73 ; iii : 243 ; and Fenner Papers no. 17717 in City 
Hall.) 

Antashantuck. The neck of land in the bend of the 
Pocasset River, east of the present Randall's Pond in the 
town of Cranston. Antashantuck Pond was the present Ran- 
dall's Pond. {P. R. 4 : 68 ; viii : 72 ; and plat in Fenner Papers, 
p. 43, in R. I. Hist. Soc.) 

Ascocanoxsuck. The single mention of this locality in 
1667 gives no clue as to its location. {P. R. i : 36.) 

Assopumsett Brook. See Ossapimsuck Brook. 

Baileys Butts. Two little hills formerly located on the 
western side of the present Grotto Brook running into Bai- 
leys Cove, and probably on either side of the present Black- 
stone Boulevard near Magellan street. (P. R. iii : 76, 188, 
and Lockwood Map of 1835. These may be the two little 
hills shown on Hayward's Plan of the Proposed Survey of the 
Boston and Providence Railway, 1828.) 

Baileys Cove. The cove at the southeast end of the But- 
ler Hospital grounds into which the present Grotto Brook 
runs. It was also called Baileys Further Cove or Upper 
Cove. Baileys Hither Cove or Lower Cove was about one- 
sixth of a mile further south, where the brook from Cat 
Swamp empties into the Seekonk River. (P. R. i : 84 ; ii : 36, 
106 ; iv : 144 ; viii : 73 ; and Lockwood Map of 1835.) 



Benedicts Pond. Mentioned in the records as early as 
1659, being practically in the same location as it is at the pres- 
ent time — south of the junction of Union avenue and Wads- 
worth street. (P. R. i : 99, and Hopkins 1882 Atlas.) 

Bewits Brow. This locality, one of the original bounda- 
ries of Providence lands, was on the west side of the Moshas- 
suck River. The order in which it is listed in the " Sovereign 
Plaister " would seem to place it somewhere near the present 
Saylesville, but a careful study of early deeds places it a mile 
south of where the Moshassuck River bends toward the west 
at the upper end of the North Burial Ground. According to 
1 8th century tradition the brow of land formerly southwest of 
the present junction of Charles and Hawes streets was called 
Bewits Brow. {P. R. ii : 18, 19, 73; iii : 243 ; and Harris 
Papers, p. 92.) 

Blackstone River. In the 17th century almost invariably 
called the Pawtucket River. A rare instance of the present 
name is in Harris Papers, p. 171. 

Broad Cove. The present Burgess Cove, north of Fields 
Point. (P. R. ii : 32 ; vi : 37.) 

Cat Swamp. Mentioned in the records as early as 1669, 
although of somewhat larger extent than its present area. 
(P. R. iii : 118, and Lockwood Map of 1835.) 

Caucaunjawatchuck. A tract of land directly northeast 
of the present Olneys Pond in the town of Lincoln. (P. R. 
i : 34 ; v : 87 ; xi : 139 ; and Plat Card 385 in City Hall.) 

Cedar Swamp Brook. The " brook from the cedar swamp 
flowing into Neutaconkanut river " is mentioned frequently 
in the early records. Identical with the present Cedar Swamp 
Brook in the town of Johnston. (P. R. viii : 72, 81; xiv : 100, 
220.) 



Chapompamiskock. A large tract of land extending south- 
east from the present Chopmist Hill in the northwest corner 
of Scituate. The name was also applied to the hill itself. 
{P. R. viii : 138 ; xii : 68 ; xvi: 322.) 

Cold Spring. The only apparent mention of the locality 
of this name near Red Bridge in the early records is in 1681, 
where the place spoken of is undoubtedly identical with the 
Cold Spring situated at the extreme eastern end of East Man- 
ning street. {P. R. viii : 91 and Plat Cards 112 and 125 in 
City Hall.) Another locality called Cold Spring was south- 
east of Scotts Pond, being situated near the present corner of 
Lonsdale avenue and Crossman street in the city of Central 
Falls. (P. R. ix : 16 ; xiv : 16 ; and Walling Map of 1862.) 

Cove. " The Cove " or great body of water formed by the 
joining of the Woonasquatucket and Moshassuck Rivers, as is 
shown on all the early maps of Providence, was so called as 
early as 1671. (P. R. iii : 214 ; v : 199, 227.) 

Cowpen Point. A point jutting into the Providence 
River at the present corner of Point and Eddy streets. Ap- 
pears on the Anthony Map of 1803. (P. R. ii : 103 ; viii : 69.) 

Cranberry Pond. That part of the present Scotts Pond, 
in the town of Lincoln, which was known as Cranberry Pond 
before the construction of the Blackstone Canal, and which 
to-day is sometimes called Floating Island Pond. (P. R. 
iii : 163 ; xiv : 13-16 ; and Stevens Map of 1831.) 

Crookfall Brook. This brook, the present boundary 
between Lincoln and North Smithfield, was so called as early 
as 1683. It was more often, however, termed the Wesquad- 
omeset. (P. R. iv : 143 ; xiv : 194 ; xvii : 20.) 

Devils Hole. A deep hole on the west side of the 
Woonasquatucket River, near the present village of Dyer- 



8 

ville. (P. R. v : 97, 139; xi : 181 ; xiv : 152 ; and MS. Deeds, 
iv: 187, in City Hall.) 

Dirty Cove. See Hawkins Cove. 

Dividing Line between Providence and Pawtuxet lands. 
The attempt is here made to summarize the various details of 
action regarding this line, from 1640 until its final settlement 
in 1712. 

The line from Sassafras Cove to the tree at Mashapaug and 
thence between the Pawtuxet and Woonasquatucket rivers 
"of an even distance" was agreed upon July 27, 1640 (P. R. 
xv : 2, 76). It was apparently run out by the Pawtuxet men 
in 1659 (xv : 76) and by a joint committee sometime between 
1661 and 1665 (xvii : 215 ; Harris Papers, p. 256). In 1660 the 
Town of Providence voted that they would own the line to 
extend equally between the two rivers for twenty miles, which 
vote, as later testimony shows, was procured at a " packed " 
meeting (/'. R. ii : 125; and Fenner Papers no. 16675 in 
City Hall). On April 2J, 1661, a joint committee was ap- 
pointed to extend the line beyond Mashapaug (P. R. iii : 2). 
This line, however, as Harris shows in his account of the sur- 
vey, was run much too far north, to Hipses Rock (Harris 
Papers, p. 256). A joint committee appointed in 1665 to ex- 
tend the line correctly beyond Mashapaug never accomplished 
anything (P. R. iii : 61 ; xvii : 245). In 1669 the committee 
of 1 66 1 reported that they had run the line from Sassafras 
Cove to Mashapaug, thence north to a point midway between 
the two rivers, thence west to a point near the Pocasset River, 
which report was accepted by the Town (iii : 136 ; xvii : 215). 

The subject of the dividing line rested until Harris ob- 
tained his order from the Court, November 24, 1677, requir- 
ing Providence to run a direct line from the head of the 
Woonasquatucket River to the Pawtuxet River, and then a line 
equi-distant between the two rivers to this thwart line (viii : 46 ; 
xv : 174). Providence immediately appointed a committee 
(viii: 21), but endeavored to shorten the Pawtuxet territory 



by running a thwart line from the head of the Woonasqua- 
tucket River to a point on the Pawtuxet River near its mouth 
(viii : 28, 31 ; Harris Papers, p. 238 ; and map in Rider's Hist. 
Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100). Although the Court disapproved 
of this method of running the thwart line and an order was 
obtained from the King requiring a true execution of the ver- 
dicts, yet the death of Harris, in 1681, removed the leader of 
the Pawtuxet men from the field, and on January 16, 1683, a 
joint committee agreed that the western boundary of the Paw- 
tuxet territory should be the seven-mile line, and that the 
northern boundary should be a line running from a center 
point on a head line through the tree at Mashapaug to a point 
on the seven-mile line midway between the Woonasquatucket 
River and the Warwick north line {P. R. iv : 73), which was 
practically an equi-distant line between the two rivers. Provi- 
dence approved of this report and ordered the lines to be run 
without delay (viii: 130). Yet, although this order was re- 
newed in 1698 and in 1706 (xi : 43, 105) and was made the 
subject of numerous petitions from the Pawtuxet men 
(xvii : 230-274), it was not until May 14, 171 1, that the line 
was finally run by a joint committee. This line ran from a 
marked stone at Mashapaug west 14 north to the seven-mile 
line, and from that point due south to the Warwick line 
(xvii : 282). Its more specific boundaries are given in the 
Harris Papers, p. 371. The committee's report was drawn 
up on February 11, 1712, and recorded, marked "accepted," 
on March 3, 171 2 (xvii : 284.) 

Dry Brook. Situated in the town of Johnston and still 
so called. {P. R. v: 180.) The present reservoirs on the 
brook, however, are of comparatively recent construction. 

Foxes Hill. Appears in the records as early as 1644. 
The hill, which has been mostly cut away, extended between 
the present South Main and Ann streets as far south as India 
street, the highest point being near the present corner of 
Brook and Tockwotton streets. {P. R. ii : 5, and engraving 
on Anthony Map of 1823.) 



10 

Gotham Valley. A valley, formerly so called, located 
south of the southern bend of the Woonasquatucket River 
near the present junction of the Hartford and Plainfield 
roads. (P. R. i : 8 ; xiv : 168.) 

Great Meadow Hollow. A valley, mentioned frequently 
in the early records, directly south of the present junction of 
Lonsdale avenue and Main street, in Pawtucket. It appears 
on the Lockwood Map of 1835, where it is called Meadow 
Hollow. The Great Meadow itself lay on the Moshassuck 
River to the west of the Hollow. (P. R. ii : 7 ; iii : 98 ; xi : 165 ; 
xiv : 162.) 

Great Point. A hilly point on the northern side of the 
old Cove, being practically at the present junction of Gaspee 
street and Kinsley avenue. {P. R. ii : 36 ; iii: 175; and 
Lockwood Map of 1835.) 

Great Pond. That part of the present Scotts Pond in the 
town of Lincoln which was known as Scotts Pond before the 
Blackstone Canal was built. (P. R. ix : 16 ; xiv : 16.) Earlier 
known as Worlds End Pond. 

Great Swamp. A large swamp, much of which still re- 
mains, extending north from Cypress street, between East 
avenue and the Swan Point road, nearly as far as Pidge ave- 
nue. It had four "openings," the first of which was at 
Cypress street and the second at Rochambeau avenue. (P. 
R. ii : 16 ; viii : 149.) Its location is well shown on the Lock- 
wood Map of 1835. 

Hackeltons Rock. The original name of Dexters Lime 
Rocks, in the town of Lincoln. (P. R. iii : 8, 66, 229, 241, 
and Dexter Genealogy, pp. 14, 26.) 

Hawkins Cove. A cove, the general outline of which 
can still be seen, at the eastern end of the present Blackstone 



11 

street. It was also called Muddy Cove and Dirty Cove. (P. 
R. xiv: no; Providence MS. Deeds, iv: 237; and Plat Card 
66 in City Hall.) It appears on many of the early Providence 
maps and was formerly the eastern bound of the Providence- 
Cranston line. (See Cushing & Walling Map of 1849.) 

Hawkins Hole. A swampy place at the northeastern end 
of the present Randalls pond, in the town of Cranston. (P. 
R. iv : 62, 68 ; v : 137 ; and plat in Fenner Papers, p. 43, in R. 
I. Hist. Society.) 

Hipses Rock. Undoubtedly the high rock still standing 
in the three-cornered tract bounded by the old Plainfield road, 
the Morgans Mills road and the Pocasset River. (P. R. ii : 73 ; 
iii:6i; xiv 126; Harris Papers, p. 256; and plat of the 
" Wise Farm " in the Fenner Papers, p. n, in the R. I. Hist. 
Society.) 

Hunters Rock. The single mention of this locality in 
1686 gives little clue as to where it was situated. {P. R. 
xiv : 227.) 

Hurtleberry Hill. The hill, the highest part of which 
is near the present corner of Eaton and Hillwood streets, that 
is now called Bradley Hill. (P. R. iii : 88 ; viii : 158 ; and Plat 
Cards 118, 377, in City Hall.) 

Joshuas Swamp. A swamp mentioned in the account of 
Samuel Winsor's estate, in 1687, and probably situated on 
Small Brook, directly north of the present Chalkstone ave- 
nue. (P. R. xiv : 41 ; xvii : 54, 97 ; and Plat Card 118 in City 
Hall.) 

Keyes. A clump of pines on the eastern side of the 
northern branch of the Woonasquatucket River, and near the 
present dividing line between North Smithfield and Smith- 
field. This branch was occasionally called the Nipsachuck 



12 

River. This statement corrects the note on p. 103, infra. 
(P. R. iii : 244 ; iv : 151 ; v : 106 ; Harris Papers, pp. 102-104 ; 
and Plat Card 385 in City Hall.) 

Little Flood. See Rumley Marsh. 

Long Cove. See Sassafras Cove. 

Long Craft. A small meadow on the Pocasset River, in 
the vicinity of Neutaconkanut Hill. Its exact location can- 
not be identified. {P. R. ii : 124, 126; and Fenner Papers, 
no. 17760, in City Hall.) 

Long Neck. The neck, still often so called, extending 
north and south, to the east of the cove at Pawtuxet. It was 
also called the Little Neck. (P. R. v : 55, 57 ; xv : 95 ; and 
Hopkins Atlas of 1882.) On a plat of 1661, in the R. I. 
Hist. Soc. MSS., v: 11, this neck is marked Washouset 
Point. 

Long Pond. Mentioned in the records as early as 1661, 
being in the same location as it was until recent years, — west 
of Elmwood avenue and between Daboll and Cromwell streets. 
P. R. i : 54, 95, and 1882 Atlas.) 

Loquasqussuck. A tract of wooded country comprising 
practically the northern two-thirds of the present town of 
Lincoln. Mentioned as early as 1646. {P. R. iii : 26, 245 ; 
v: 108; and R. I. Col. Rcc. i : 32.) Now spelled Louisquisset. 

Mameawequate. Apparently a boundary of the Mashan- 
tatuck purchase. {Harris Papers, p. 63.) 

Many Holes. A boggy meadow on the west side of 
Mashapaug Brook, a few hundred feet north of the present 
Park avenue. {P. R. ii : 13; v : 62 ; xiv : 268; xvi : 334; and 
plat in Field Papers, p. 84, in R. I. Hist. Society.) The Cun- 



13 

liffs Pond of to-day is chiefly artificial, being merely an en- 
largement of Mashapaug Brook. (See the Stevens Map of 
183 1 and plat in Riders' Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100.) 

Martins Wading Place. A ford on the Blackstone River, 
a little south of the present village of Ashton, and about 100 
feet north of the present Berkeley bridge. (P. R. ii:86; 
Wilkinson Genealogy, pp. 53-54 ; and Walling Map of 1862.) 

Mashackqunt. A tract of land beyond Wesquadomeset. 
{P. R.v.2%1.) 

Mashantatuck. A tract of land, comprising about 4000 
acres, purchased of the Indians in 1662. The Indian bounda- 
ries are so indefinite that it is difficult to tell how far the pur- 
chase extended beyond Mashantatuck Brook, but in general 
its boundaries may be said to be the Pocasset River on the 
east, the Pawtuxet on the south, the Mashantatuck on the 
west and the Providence-Pa wtuxet dividing line on the north. 
The locality was also occasionally called Paquabuck. {P. R. 
vi : 197 ; xiv : 290; R. I. Col. Rec. i : 483 ; and Harris Papers, 
pp. 62, 64, 69.) The name to-day, as it is given to the brook, 
is spelled Meshanticut. 

Mashapaug. A tract of meadow land about half a mile 
southeast of Mashapaug Pond. The locality was an original 
boundary of the town of Providence and in the earliest days 
a pathway led to it. {P. R. i : 13; iv:7i, 1355 v:6o; 
xiv: 199; xv : 2, 21.) Mashapaug Pond.— Identical with the 
present pond of the same name, although of somewhat 
smaller extent; mentioned in the records as early as 1645. 
(P. R. v:6i; vi : 141 ; xv : 74.) Mashapaug Brook.— The 
outlet from Mashapaug Pond to the Pawtuxet River. The 
present Park lakes and Cunliffs Pond have been chiefly con- 
structed by damming this brook. (P. R. i : 45, 94 ; vi : 205 ; 
and Stevens Map of 1831.) 



14 

Maskataquatt. An Indian locality mentioned apparently 
as the southwestern boundary of the Mashantatuck purchase. 
{Harris Papers, pp. 63, 64.) 

Mattetakonitt Meadows. The meadows on the north- 
western branch of the Woonasquatucket River and directly 
northwest of the present village of Primrose in the town of 
North Smithfield. Occasionally called the Mattity Meadows 
and to-day known as Mattity Swamp. (P. R. v r iii : 1 39 ; 
xiv: 114 ; and Plat Card 385 in City Hall.) 

Mile End Cove. A cove formerly on the east side of 
the Providence River, where Link street is now located. After 
1700 it was occasionally called Wickendens Cove. The brook 
that followed the course of the present Brook street, and 
turning west flowed into the cove, was called Mile End Cove 
Brook. (P. R. i : 4 ; ii : 5 ; xvii : 280 ; Hopkins' Home-Lots, 
p. 60 ; and plat of 1707 in Steere Genealogy, p. 193.) 

Mill River. A name given to the Moshassuck River for 
a short distance above the present Mill street. {P. R. vii : 50 ; 
xi : 148 ; and folio Plat Book, i : 7, in City Clerk's office.) 

Mishoasakit. The name of an Indian locality apparently 
bounded on the north by Wayunkeke, on the east by Secesa- 
kutt and extending westward seven miles. As a pond, the 
name might apply to either the present Spragues or Water- 
mans reservoir. (P. R. v : 284-286.) 

Moshassuck River. Same as the present river of that 
name ; an original boundary of Providence. In the town 
deed, Moshassuck is used as a name synonymous with Provi- 
dence. (P. R. iv: 71 ; v: 296; and Roger Williams' Letters 
in Narr. Club Publications, vi : 263.) 

Moswansicut. First mentioned as a locality in 1660 and 
as a pond in 1665 — the same as the present pond in the north- 



15 

eastern corner of Scituate. The lands about here were di- 
vided in 1684. (P. R. ii : 134; iii : 68 ; viii : 138 ; and plat in 
R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., vii : 11, 12.) 

Muddy Cove. See Hawkins Cove. 

Mushattchuckapeake. An Indian ground, which it is 
impossible to identify with any modern locality. It was, how- 
ever, evidently near Mashapaug Brook, in the vicinity of Fran- 
cis Weston's house. (P. R. xv : 101 ; and map in Rider's 
Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100.) 

Nanipsick Pond. A pond mentioned in the boundaries of 
the Indian tract Mishoasakit. It seems impossible to identify 
it with any modern body of water. {P. R. v : 284.) 

Narrow Passage. A narrow place in the Seekonk River, 
directly south of the present Red, or Central, Bridge. Andrew 
Edmunds kept a ferry here during the latter part of the 17th 
century. {P. R. iii: 48; viii : 44 ; xiv:i24, 237; and folio 
Plat Book, ii : 1, in City Clerk's office.) 

Natick. A tract of land, generally spelled Nachick, the 
boundaries of which, according to its division in 1673, were 
the Pawtuxet River, the Mashantatuck Brook, the Warwick 
north line, and the vicinity of the present village of Ark- 
wright. The hill standing in this tract was called Nachick 
Hill. {Harris Papers, pp. 61, 303 ; Fuller's Hist, of Wat wick, 
p. 206 ; and map in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100.) 

Neck. " The Neck " was the land between the Moshassuck 
and Seekonk rivers, and extending on the north somewhat be- 
yond the present line between Providence and Pawtucket. 
Mentioned in the records as early as 1642. (P. R. i: no; 
ii: 1 ; and MS. Town Papers, 01291.) 

Neutaconkanut. The name of a hill in the present town 



16 

of Johnston, generally spelled Neotaconkonitt in the early rec- 
ords. One of the original boundaries of Providence (P. R. 
iv: 71 ; v: 296; and Harris Papers, p. 55.) The name was 
also given to the Pocasset River above the southern end of 
Neutaconkanut Hill. (P. R. iv : 38 ; viii : 71.) 

Nipsachuck. A hill, in the present southwestern corner 
of North Smithfield, that was a western boundary of the first 
Inman purchase of 1666. The name was also applied to the 
river flowing down by the Keyes (q. v.), to the locality around 
the hill and to the swamp southwest of the hill. {P. R. iv : 
184; v : 65 ; Narr. Hist. Register, vi : 49, 62; and Stevens 
Map of 1 83 1.) 

Nonpluss Hill. A small hill directly northwest of the 
present village of Enfield, in the town of Smithfield. It may 
be said to correspond with the southern end of Wolf Hill, al- 
though this latter name was used as early, at least, as 1726. 
(P. R. iv : 54 ; v : 28 ; xi : 16 ; xiv : 226.) 

Observation. As a hill, the name applied to the present 
Stump Hill in the southern part of the town of Lincoln. Ob- 
servation Rock was a high, peaked rock standing on top of the 
hill before the construction of the reservoir. (P. R. ii : 73 ; 
viii: 101.) Observation Meadow was a tract of meadow land 
now overflowed and known as Olneys Pond. The brook run- 
ning through it to the Moshassuck River was known as Obser- 
vation Run. (P. R. i : 44 ; ii: 19 ; xvi : 223.) 

Ossapimsuck Brook. A brook in the present town of 
Johnston, running easterly into the Woonasquatucket River 
between Allendale and Lymansville. Also called Assopum- 
sett. (P. R. v:u7, 134; xiv: 225; xvi: 259; and Harris 
Map of 1795.) 

Oxford. An original boundary of the town of Providence, 
which it is impossible to identify with any modern locality. 



17 

Judging from the order in which it is listed in the original 
boundaries, it was probably a ford on the Woonasquatucket 
River about six miles from Providence. (P. R.'n: 73 ; Harris 
Papers, p. 92.) 

Pamechipsk. A ridge of hills forming the eastern bound- 
ary of the Indian tract Wayunkeke, and undoubtedly the 
range extending north and south through the center of the 
present town of Smithfield. {P. R. v : 285.) 

Papaquinapaug. The present Fenners Pond in the town 
of Cranston. The neighboring region was also called Papa- 
quinapaug, as was the brook running out of the pond. Mash- 
apaug Brook, near its southern end, seems to have been some- 
times termed Papaquinapaug Brook. {P. R. i : 45, 80 ; vi : 201 ; 
Harris Papers, pp. 57, 258; plat reproduced in Rider's Hist. 

Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100 ; and plat in Field Papers, p. 84, in 

R. I. Hist. Soc.) 

Paquabuck. A name occasionally applied to Mashanta- 
tuck. {P. R. xv : 87 ; Harris Papers, pp. 62, 69.) 

Paugachauge. An Indian field on the eastern side of the 
Neutaconkanut or Pocasset River, directly south of where Dry 
Brook flows in. {P. R. v : 53, 319 ; xiv : 39.) 

Paugeamapauge Pond. Apparently another name for 
Tabamapauge Pond, q.v. (P. R. iv : 136; v : 38, 137.) 

Pawtucket. The name, Pawtucket River, an original 
boundary of Providence, was used interchangeably with the 
name Seekonk River for that part of the stream between Paw- 
tucket and the present India Point, as well as for that part 
of the present Providence River south of India Point. The 
name was also invariably applied to the river north of Paw- 
tucket, now called the Blackstone River. Pawtucket Fields, 
also an original Providence boundary, were on the western 



18 

side of the river and south of Pawtucket Falls. (P. R. 
ii : 129 ; iv : 71 ; v : 224 ; xiv : 112, 194.) 

Pawtuxet. An original boundary of Providence and a 
name given then, as now, to the locality, the falls and the 
river. Also in one or two cases called Pootatugock. (P. R. 
iv : 18, 71 ; xiv : 64. There is an early plat of the lands north 
of Pawtuxet reproduced in Rider's Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, 
p. 100, and a hitherto unnoticed plat of 1661 of the lands 
south of the river in R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., v: 11.) 

Pesaumkamesquesit Pond. The present Blackmore Pond 
in the town of Cranston. The magnetic meridan line of 1664, 
run due north from the mouth of the Pocasset River to the 
Neutaconkanut road, could have passed only through Black- 
more Pond. This corrects the footnote on p. 73. (See Har- 
ris Papers, p. 73, and 1895 Atlas. 

Pettaconset. The meadow, or bottom, land on the north 
side of the Pawtuxet River, where the present pumping station 
is located. {P. R. vii : 199; xivropp. p. iv ; xvii : 289 ; and 
Harris Papers, p. 62.) 

Pocasset River. Mentioned in the records as early as 
1652, but generally spelled Pauchasett. It was invariably 
called the Neotaconkonitt above the bend south of the hill. 
(P. R. ii : 12 ; viii : 71.) 

Pomecansett. The neck of land between the present 
Fields Point and Sassafras Point. Also spelled Pumgansett. 
One reference, however, in the early records seems to locate 
this region nearly two miles further south than Fields Point. 
{P. R. iii : 7 ; xiv : 146, 212 ; xv : 101.) 

Ponagansett Pond. The present Ponagansett Reservoir 
in the town of Glocester, being the extreme headwaters of 
the Pawtuxet River. The name, generally spelled Punhungan- 



19 

sett, was also applied to the locality about the pond and to the 
stream which joined with the Moswansicut River at South 
Scituate to form the northern branch of the Pawtuxet River. 
(P. R. iv : 43 ; xv : 87 ; xvii : 230, 262 ; and Harris Papers, 
pp. 188, 212, 220.) 

Poor Man's Plain. A name occasionally applied to Ven- 
ter Plain, q. v. {P. R. iii : 89 ; and MS. Deed Book, xiv : 283, 
in City Hall.) 

Providence. The name first occurs in the records in the 
original Indian deed. {P. R. iv : 70.) Roger Williams often 
called it New Providence in his earliest letters. The Provi- 
dence River, from Pawtuxet as far north as the Cove, was in- 
variably called the "salt river " or the " great salt river " be- 
fore 1700; the earliest date that the present name occurs in 
the records is 1705. {P. R. iv : 19 ; ix : 14 ; xvii : 198.) 

Quttonckanitnuing. The northern boundary of Wayun- 
keke ; not identifiable with any modern locality. (P. R. 
v:28 5 .) 

Reynolds Valley. That part of the Blackstone Valley 
between the present Scotts Pond and the Blackstone River, in 
the town of Lincoln. (P. R. ii : 7 ; xiv : 10-16.) 

Robbins Brook. The brook flowing down by the western 
side of Windmill Hill to the West River — now a series of 
ponds, Randall's Pond, Upper and Lower Canada ponds, and 
Lincoln's Pond. (P. R. v : 15 ; viii : 151.) 

Rocky Hill. A hill, still so called, in the town of Cran- 
ston, east of the present Print Works pond ; mentioned in the 
records as early as 1659. (P. R. i : 97 ; iii : 169 ; xiv : 128.) 

Round Cove. A cove chiefly of thatch grass, of about 
six acres, which was formerly located directly west of the 



20 

present East River street at Red Bridge, and extending 
northerly to Medvvay street. (P. R. iv : 192 ; v : 222 ; xiv : 279 ; 
Plat Card 125 ; and plat in Fenner Papers no. 17030 in City 
Hall ; and Lock wood Map of 1835.) 

Rumley Marsh. A little marsh, also called "Rumney 
Marsh on the Little Flood " bordering on the northeast corner 
of the Cove and directly north of the island later known as 
Whipple's Island. The location of this island, also called 
Little Island and Grassey Island, is well shown on the An- 
thony Map of 1823 and in folio Plat Book, ii : page 1, in City 
Clerk's office. (P. R. ii : 4, 21, 56 ; v : 227 ; xiv : 9 ; Hopkins' 
Home Lots, p. 69; and Prov. MS. Town Papers, no. 0048199, 
in City Hall.) 

Sassafras Cove. A cove, generally spelled Saxafrax in 
the early records, corresponding to the present Corliss Cove 
at Sassafras Point. Also called Long Cove, occasionally in 
the 17th century and generally in the 18th century. (P. R. 
xiv : 146; xv : 2 ; and plat in Field Papers, p. 20, in the R. I. 
Hist. Soc.) 

Scockanoxet. The region around Hackletons Lime 
Rocks — the present Dexters Lime Rocks — a little southeast 
of the village of Lime Rock in the town of Lincoln. (P. R. 
iii : 66, 229, 241 ; xvii : 295 ; and Dexter Genealogy, pp. 14, 22.) 
The brook flowing from the Lime Rocks to the Blackstone 
river was called Scockonoxet Brook. (MS. Deeds, v : 294, in 
City Hall.) 

Seekonk. River. Generally spelled Seaconke, mentioned 
in the records as early as 1650, and often called the Pawtucket 
River. {P. R. ii : 10 ; v : 283 ; xvii : 155.) 

Sekesakut Hill. A hill, formerly so called, in the town 
of Johnston, extending north and south, and about a mile and 
a half west of the present village of Lymansville. The name 



21 

was also applied to the region about the hill. {P. R. i : 20 ; 
iv : 130; v : 116, 132.) 

Seven Mile Line. This line was established on May 14, 
1660, as the bounds of the first division of proprietors lands. 
From a point seven miles due west from Foxes Hill, it was to 
run north to the Pawtucket River and south to the Pawtuxet 
River (P. R. ii : 129). On December 30, 1663, a committee 
was chosen to set the bound seven miles west of Foxes Hill 
and to run the northern extension of the line (iii : 47). The 
latter part of this order was renewed February 19, 1666 (ii : 69), 
and the line was run probably as far as the Woonasquatucket 
River soon thereafter. According to the Providence-Pawtuxet 
agreement of January 16, 1683, the southern extension of the 
line was to be run as far as the Warwick north line (xv : 237). 
Although it was ordered, on April 27, 1683, that this be done 
without delay (viii : 130), and although it became the subject 
of frequent later discussion (P. R. xi : 43, 105 ; xvii : 231, 274 ; 
and Fenner Papers, no. 16675, 16816, 16847, ^975, in City 
Hall) it was not until February 11, 1712, that a joint commit- 
tee reported that the line had been run and the bounds set 
{P. R. xvii: 284). In the meanwhile, on January 27, 1710, it 
had been ordered that the line should be run out from the 
Woonasquatucket River northerly unto the limits of the Provi- 
dence lands (xi : 141). The line which to-day forms the east- 
ern boundary of Burrillville, Glocester and Scituate is prac- 
tically the seven-mile line as it was established in 1660. The 
distance from Foxes Hill was evidently approximated, and not 
surveyed, since it amounts to slightly over eight miles. Being 
surveyed by a compass, moreover, the line falls about 9 west 
of the true astronomical north given on most modern maps. 

Small Brook. The brook flowing through the present 
Davis Park into the Woonasquatucket River. (P. R. ii : 21 ; 
v: 222; Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 69; and Plat Card 118 in 
City Hall.) 

Snail Hill. A hill, formerly so called, near the present 



22 

corner of Waterman and Cooke streets. A plat of the Snail 
Hill property drawn by Gov. Hopkins is in the Moses Brown 
Papers, vol. 18, no. 124a, in the R. I. Hist. Soc. {P. R. ii : 12, 
20; and MS. Deeds, xii : 152.) 

Sockanosset. The locality of the present Sockanosset 
Reservoir in the town of Cranston. {P. R. xvi : 286 ; Harris 
Papers, p. 207.) 

Solitary Hill. A hill formerly located directly south of 
the present Olneyville Public Library Building at Olneyville 
Square. The dividing line between Providence and Johnston 
ran due north and south from the eastern side of this hill. 
{P. R. i : 8 ; xiv : 169 ; R. I. Col. Rec. vi : 194 ; Steere Geneal- 
ogy, p. 180; Cushing and Walling Map of 1849.) 

Spectacle Pond. Identical with the present pond of the 
same name in the town of Cranston ; mentioned in the rec- 
ords as early as 1644. {P. R. ii : 3 ; iv: 141.) Spectacle 
Meadows lay to the west of the pond. {Harris Papers, pp. 55, 
73, 98.) There were also Spectacle Meadows on the Branch 
River, near the present Burrillville-North Smithfield dividing 
mentioned early in the 18th century. 

Stampers. A hill, formerly so called, at the present 
Stampers street, on the east side of the Moshassuck River. 
Stampers Bottoms lay at the foot of the hill, on the river. (P. 
R. ii :58, 91 ; iii : 75 ; and plat reproduced in Steere Genealogy, 
P- 36.) 

Suckatunkanuck Hill. A hill directly east of the pres- 
ent Almy's Reservoir, in the town of Johnston. (P. R. iv : 24 ; 
xiv : 93 ; and Stevens Map of 1831.) 

Sugar Loaf Hill. Mentioned in 1653 as an original 
boundary of the town of Providence. Judging by its order in 
the list then given, it must have been situated a little north- 
west of Pawtucket. (P. R. ii : 71.) 



23 

Sutamachute Hill. A hill, formerly so called, located in 
the town of Johnston, south of Dry Brook and directly 
northwest of the village of Simmonsville. Often spelled 
Sichamachute. (P. R. iii : 241 ; iv : 156 ; v : 319; xi : 77.) 

Swan Point. On the Seekonk River and still so called ; 
mentioned in the records as early as 1685. (P. R. viii : 149, 
160.) 

Swan Pond. A little pond on the west side of the Mo- 
shassuck River, directly south of the present Breakneck Road 
and north of Olney's Pond. In the 1895 Atlas it is called 
Quinsnicket Pond, and in Holbrook's Genealogy of the Hopkins 
Family (1881), p. 18, it is spoken of as Goldfish Pond. (P. 
R. ii: 107; iv: 119, 228.) 

Tabamapauge Pond. The present Dyer's Pond in the 
town of Cranston. Sometimes called Paugeamapauge Pond 
and in one deed apparently confused with Antashantuck Pond. 
{P. R. iv : 136 ; v : 38, 137 ; viii : 71.) 

Tarebreech Plain. The sole mention of this name be- 
fore 1700 gives no hint as to its location. Perhaps the word 
has some connection with the 18th century Tar Bridge, at 
Olneyville. {P. R. iii : 88.) 

Third Lake Brook. A brook flowing from the northern 
end of the Great Swamp into the Moshassuck River. Traces 
of it can still be seen where it enters the river at Moshassuck 
street in the city of Pawtucket, crossing Main street near the 
junction of West avenue. (P. R. iii: 21 ; xiv : 191, 208; and 
Hopkins Atlas of 1882.) 

Tongue Pond. Mentioned in the records as early as 1659, 
being practically in its present location — between Fenner ave- 
nue and the railroad, and directly south of the Narragansett 
Brewing Company. (P. R. i: 98, 99; and 1895 Atlas.) 



24 

Toskeunkk. The meadows on both sides of the Pawtuxet 
River, south of the present Warwick line and to the east of 
the village of Pontiac. It was affirmed that the river itself at 
that place was called Toskeunke, but it was apparently never 
so termed, except by some of the Warwick settlers. {P. R. 
iv : 161 ; Harris Papers, pp. 57, 298, 310; plats in Rider's 
Hist. Tract, ser. 2, no. 4, p. 100; and R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS. 
v : 11 ; and Warner Papers, no. 63, 75, in J. C. B. Library. The 
land between Pontiac and Meshanticut Brook is called Chee- 
Toskeunke on the plat in Rider's Hist. Tract, and there is oc- 
casional use of the name (See Copies of Warwick Records, 
p. 33, in R. I. Hist. Society). 

Toyaskqut River. A river running "down to Paw- 
tucket," mentioned in 1661 as the western boundary of Way- 
unkeke. Perhaps the present Tarkiln River. (P. R. v : 285.) 

Venter. A name formerly given to a brook flowing into 
the Woonasquatucket River directly north of the present vil- 
lage of Merino in the town of Johnston, as well as to the 
meadows north of the brook and to the general locality. The 
plain to the south of the brook was called both Venter Plain 
and Poor Man's Plain. Occasionally spelled Venture. (P. R. 
ii : 37 ; iii : 89 ; vi : 105 ; xiv:63, 100; xvi : 435 ; MS. Deeds, 
xiv : 283, in City Hall ; and Hopkins 1882 Atlas.) 

Vineyard. An island in the Pawtuxet River, directly north 
of the present Rhodes boathouse. It formerly belonged to 
the thirteen Pawtuxet proprietors and is still known by its 
original name. (P. R. ii : 1 1 ; v : 55 ; xiv : 75 ; and 1895 
Atlas.) 

Wallers Island. An island in the Great Swamp, several 
hundred feet north of the present Rochambeau avenue and 
near the Blackstone Boulevard. (P. R. iii: 107; xiv: 165.) 

Wallers Swamp. The swamp to the west of the present 



25 

Mount Pleasant avenue and north of Chalkstone avenue. 
Called N. Brown's Swamp on Lockwood Map of 1835. (P. 
R. vi : 63 ; xiv : 82 ; and Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 69.) 

Wallings Pond. The present Sprague's Lower Reservoir 
in the town of Smithfield. {P. R. iv : 21 ; xiv : 99 ; and Har- 
ris Papers, p. 319.) 

Walsingham. A name given to the Thomas Walling farm, 
formerly located on the western side of the Louisquisset Pike, 
in the present town of Lincoln, and near the southern bound- 
ary line of the town. (P. R. iii : 117, 158, 160; xiv: 31 ; and 
MS. Deeds, iv : 146, in City Hall.) 

Wanskuck. The name of a brook flowing into the West 
River near the present boundary line between Providence and 
North Providence. The name was also applied to the mead- 
ows along the brook and to the neighboring locality. The 
name to-day is applied to a village and pond somewhat to the 
' east of Wanskuck Brook. In its alternate form of spelling— 
Wenscott — it seems at quite an early date to have been ap- 
plied to the meadows a mile and a half northwest of the 
brook. (P. R. iii : 239 ; iv : 142 ; xvi : 202 ; and Lockwood 
Map of 1835.) 

Wapwaysitt. Another spelling of Weybosset, q. v. 

Washouset Point. See Long Neck. 

Wayunkeke. The region in the immediate vicinity of the 
present Wionkhiege Hill in the town of Smithfield, and ap- 
parently regarded by the early colonists as a tract of about 
four square miles. The name, in its various spellings, was ap- 
plied to the hill, to the fields southeast of the hill and occa- 
sionally to that branch of the Woonasquatucket River which 
flowed nearby. (P. R. iii: 19; iv:i82; v : 94, 285, 320; 
xvi : 208 ; and Narr. Club Publications, vi : 315.) 



26 

Weecapasacheck. A reasonable interpretation of the 
records seems to place this locality a little south, of the pres- 
ent Wionkhiege Hill in the town of Smithfield. (P. R. iii : 38, 
241, 244.) 

Wesquadomeset. A name applied at least as early as 
1666 to the present Sayles Hill in the town of North Smith- 
field and likewise to the Crookfall Brook. The surrounding 
locality, which was included in the Inman Purchase, was also 
so called. {P. R. iii : 242 ; iv : 143; v: 144; xiv : 112, 140; 
and Narr. Hist. Register, vi : 49.) 

West River. Mentioned in the records as early as 1652 
and still so called. (P. R. ii : 11 ; xiv : 8, 106.) 

Westconnaug. A tract of land purchased in 1662 and 
comprising practically the southern half of the present town 
of Foster and that part of the town of Scituate south of the 
Pawtuxet River. Its northern boundary line was established 
in 1708. The name was generally spelled Wesquenoid or 
Westquadnaig. (P. R. xvi : 204 ; xvii:223; original deed in 
Fenner Papers, no. 16628, in City Hall ; and map of Foster in 
R. I. Hist. Soc. MSS., vii, no. 1409. There is a mutilated 
plat of the purchase in the office of the town clerk of Foster.) 

Weybosset. The specific locality, Weybosset, when men- 
tioned in the early records/invariably meant the neck of land 
bounded on the north by the Cove, on the east and southeast 
by the Providence River and on the southwest by Muddy 
Bridge, or Dorrance street. Weybosset Bridge, connecting 
this neck with the east side of the river, is the Market Square 
Bridge of to-day. Weybosset Hill stood directly to the west 
of the present Turks Head, between Weybosset and West- 
minster streets. (P. R. ii : 14 ; iii : 33 ; ix : 41 ; xi : 90, 92.) 
Weybosset Plain is spoken of as the " plain south of the 
Wanasquatucket River" or "the plain between Weybosset 
and the Pawtuxet line," yet whenever land is mentioned be- 



27 

fore 1700 as being on Weybosset Plain, its location is invaria- 
bly near the east side of Long Pond. (P. R. i : 95 ; ii : 34 ; 
xiv: no.) Weybosset was generally spelled Waybossett, and 
occasionally Wap way sitt. (See R. I. Hist. Soc. Pub. iii : 117.) 

What Cheer. An Indian field of about six acres, located 
immediately to the west of " What Cheer Rock " and early 
granted to Roger Williams. The Fenners subsequently 
owned this and surrounding property and the plat of their es- 
tate, known as "What Cheer," is on Plat Card 61 in the City 
Deed Office. The cove to the northeast of the Rock was 
called What Cheer Cove, after 1700. (P. R. i: no; iii: in, 
190; xi : 114; and Hopkins' Home Lots, p. 61.) 

Wickendens Cove. See Mile End Cove. 

Wind Mill Hill. Identical with the present hill of the 
same name, which is located at the joining of the boundary 
lines of Providence, North Providence and Pawtucket. {P. 
R.v: 16 ; vii : 22 ; xi : 55.) 

Woonasquatucket. First mentioned as a river in the 
original deed of Providence and ever since so known. Woon- 
asquatucket Plain was the land in the vicinity of the new 
State Capitol, called Jefferson Plains on the Lockwood Map 
of 1835. It was generally spelled Wanasquatucket. {P. R. 
ii : 9, 36 ; iv : 71 ; v : 223, 296 ; xi : 52.) 

Woonsocket. In the early records this name applied to 
the hill now called Woonsocket Hill and to the immediately 
surrounding region rather than to the vicinity of the present 
town of Woonsocket. It was generally spelled Wansokutt 
or Wansokett. {P. R. viii : 118 ; xiv : 38 ; xv : 217 ; and origi- 
nal deed in R. I. Hist. Soc, and printed in Narr. Hist Regis- 
ter, vi : 52.) 

Worlds End. A pond, formerly so called, identical with 



28 

Great Pond, or that part of the present Scotts Pond in the 
town of Lincoln which was called Scotts Pond- before the 
construction of the Blackstone Canal. The Worlds End 
Meadows were southwest of the pond, on the Moshassuck 
River. (P. R. ii : 102; xi : 164; xiv : 158; and MS. Deeds, 
ii : 489 ; v : 293, in City Hall.) 



